Glyder Fawr & Glyder Fach

Start (OS Grid): Idwal Cottage (SH 649 603)
Route: Llyn Idwal / Idwal Slabs / Devil's Kitchen / Llyn y Cwn / Glyder Fawr / Castle of the Winds  / Glyder Fach / The Cantilever / Bwlch Tryfan / Llyn Bochlwyd
Map: Explorer OL17

Distance: 10.9km (6.8miles)
Time Moving: 04:04:27
Time Stop: 03:30:36
Average Moving Speed: 2.7km/h
Maximum Elevation: 1001m

Who With: Jim, Jane, Vicki, Ian
Conditions: Sunny / Warm
Refreshments: None
Hazards: Steep drops close to path / loose scree / some minor scrambling
Difficulty: Challenging

Start at Idwal / Ogwen Cottage car park. A new visitor centre is under construction and so there are just portaloos and a van serving drinks currently but parking is free for now!

The initial path leading towards Llyn Idwal is well constructed. We feel strong!

Confirmation we are in the correct mountain range in Snowdonia.

Beautiful view.....Tryfan!

We soon arrive at Llyn Idwal. 
Our route passes close to the Devil's Kitchen (Twll Du) seen here just to the right above my head. 
Steam rising from this crack in the rock is thought to have sinister origins 
(it's actually just moist air condensing into clouds)!

Taking the path to the left of the lake brings you to the Idwal slabs
and more than likely some rock climbers.

The view back across Llyn Idwal towards the Carneddau range.
Amazing views in these conditions.

The first slightly tricky part,
crossing a stream coming from the upper cliff of Glyder Fawr.

The path becomes rougher as you approach the Devil's kitchen.

The views open up further as we get higher with Llyn Ogwen now coming into view.

Did I really come with these guys or have some yanks gatecrashed!

Getting steep and rocky now! Hands required in a few places.

Seriously, we just came up there?!
Just skirting round the Devil's Kitchen and about to loose the magnificent view.

The ground levels out and soon we reach Llyn y Cwn and our lunch stop!

Time for a swift half and some sunbathing!

The motley crew.

A steep scree slope leads the way to Glyder Fawr.

Looking back across our lunch stop towards Y Garn - a peak for another day!

Cumulonimbus = cow patterned Carneddau!

As it flattens out views open up towards Llanberis.

Snowdon in the 'V'

Must reach the very pinnacle of Glyder Fawr!

Still couldn't get the GPS to reach 1001m.....
must be old school ordnance survey as it got to 999m
(if this comment makes no sense it's ok!)

I can see the sea - the angle sey!

Hello everybody!

On the way from Glyder Fawr to Glyder Fach we see Y Gribin ridge - tempting to descend but weather is too good to cut today short!

Looking into the Nameless Cwm you can just see Llyn Idwal sticking out near to where we started.

Nearing Glyder Fach the massive shattered ankle breaking boulders make a return!

Heaven and hell

No this isn't the summit it's over there!

Hey look at me, not on the summit!

Castle of the Winds (Castell y Gwynt) is reached before the summit with Snowdon looming behind.

Spiderman has to make it to the top again!
This time Glyder Fach at 994m proves much more difficult with its huge slabs of rock.

Next we reach the famous Cantilever stone.....

.....and all climb on for the obligatory shot!

Heading east from the top we get a view of 
Llyn Bochlwyd or 'Lake Australia'
(because it's shaped like Australia - duh!)

Another fine view of Tryfan this time showing the Far South Peak too.

Not fancying bristly ridge today we continue to head down towards the Miner's Track with a view of Llyn Caseg-fraith.

Turning left before the lake the descent is quite rough and loose.

After climbing again we reach the wall at Bwlch Tryfan.

Photo's with style

The final lake of the day in the evening sunshine -
Lake Austraila - shame but no BBQs in sight!

Looking back towards the cliffs of Glyder Fach.

On the final descent back towards Llyn Ogwen -phew!

What a day! An epic walk in Snowdonia National Park with amazing weather and views! Company wasn't too bad either!